Wellington Phoenix not interested in Stuart Pearce

Wellington Phoenix not interested in Stuart Pearce

The Englishman is reportedly being shopped around the A-League with various jobs on offer but is unlikely to end up in New Zealand next season

Wellington Phoenix have distanced themselves from former England caretaker manager Stuart Pearce, who has also been linked with Adelaide United and Newcastle Jets.

Pearce, 55, has reportedly been shopped around to various A-League clubs with Newcastle and Wellington having started their recruitment process for the 2017-18 season, while Adelaide are expected to replaced Guillermo Amor when the Reds' AFC Champions League commitments end.

The Adelaide Advertiser reported the Phoenix had made an offer to Pearce, who was England's temporary boss for one match in 2012 after Fabio Capello resigned.

"Speculation linking former Premier League or international managers with Wellington Phoenix shows the high esteem the club is held in overseas as well as the rising reputation of the A-League," the statement read.

"While the club is flattered by the calibre of some of the coaches linked with the position it has always been our longstanding position not to comment on speculation.

"The Chairman, football committee and general manager of Phoenix remain satisfied with the progress being made thus far with several very strong candidates both internal and external, local and overseas having been interviewed and are confident of a full announcement being made within timelines previously outlined."

Wellington Phoenix GM David Dome has told me they have never even spoken to Stuart Pearce, let alone made him an offer to coach the side.

Former assistant coaches Des Buckingham and Chris Greenacre took charge of the Phoenix for the last 19 games of the 2016-17 A-League season after Ernie Merrick quit his post in December.

Buckingham and Greenacre have applied individually to continue as Wellington's boss.

Pearce's most recent coaching job was with Nottingham Forest in the 2014-15 Championship season where he was sacked in February 2015, while he was also Manchester City's manager from March 2005 to May 2007 before spending six years involved in England's national team set-up.

In other high-profile managerial speculation, Adelaide have been linked with Gabriel Batistuta and Fernando Morientes, while Harry Kewell, Robbie Fowler and Teddy Sheringham have been mentioned as possible replacements for Mark Jones at the Jets.